Outcomes From Wraparound and Multisystemic Therapy in a Center for Mental Health Services System-of-Care Demonstration Site

• Published in: Journal of emotional and behavioral disorders Vol. 15; no. 3; pp. 143 - 155
• Main Authors: Faw Stambaugh, Leyla, Mustillo, Sarah A., Burns, Barbara J., Stephens, Robert L., Baxter, Beth, Edwards, Dan, Dekraai, Mark
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Sage Publications 01-10-2007; PRO-ED, Inc; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adolescents; Aggressiveness; Behavior Problems; Children; Clinical outcomes; Clinics; Cognition & reasoning; Emotional Disturbances; Family income; Health Services; Intervals; Intervention; Juvenile offenders; Mental Health; Mental Health Programs; Mental health services; Peer relationships; Severity; Sex offenders; Studies; Wraparound programmes; Young people
• ISSN: 1063-4266; 1538-4799
• DOI: 10.1177/10634266070150030201

This study examined outcomes for 320 youth in a Center for Mental Health Services system-of-care demonstration site. Youth received wraparound-only (n = 213), MST-only (n = 54), or wraparound + MST (n = 53). Participants were 12 years old on average and mostly White (90%), and 75% were Medicaid-eligible. Service use and functional and clinical outcomes were examined at 6-month intervals out to 18 months.All three groups improved over the study period. The MST-only group demonstrated more clinical improvement than the other groups. Functional outcomes did not differ significantly across groups.Youth in wrap + MST had higher baseline severity and experienced less clinical and functional change than the other two groups, despite more mental health service use. Targeted, evidence-based treatment may be more effective than system-level intervention alone for improving clinical symptoms among youth with serious emotional disorders served in community-based settings. New or amended approaches may be needed for youth with the most severe disorders.